President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni has commissioned 280 Uganda People’s Defence Forces (UPDF) officer cadets who successfully completed their military training at the Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba in Mubende District.
The commissioned officers comprise cadets from Officer Cadets Intake 09/26 and Bachelor of Defence Studies Intake 05/23/29. They include 187 professional officer cadets who began training in February 2026 and 87 Bachelor of Defence Studies cadets who enrolled on September 18, 2023. The latter intake initially comprised 100 cadets, but 14 did not complete the programme. Eleven of the commissioned officers are female.
In addition, six officer cadets received military training abroad. Two of them, Officer Cadets Ruhamya Kainerugaba and Andrew Bakira, trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in the United Kingdom, while four others underwent training in India.
Presiding over the commissioning ceremony, President Museveni, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the UPDF, urged the newly commissioned officers to remain focused on their military careers and avoid distractions that could compromise their service.
He described commissioning as the beginning of a long journey of service, emphasising that the effectiveness of the military depends on discipline, commitment and sound leadership.
The President also highlighted the importance of a strong economy as a key pillar of national defence, noting that the military must work alongside other institutions to safeguard the country’s productive sectors.
He called on military leaders to identify and address factors that undermine economic growth while cooperating with relevant institutions to protect wealth creation in commercial agriculture, manufacturing, services and information and communication technology (ICT).
Museveni further urged security agencies to respond firmly to crime in communities, particularly the theft of livestock distributed to farmers under the Parish Development Model (PDM).
The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Defence Forces, Gen. Muhoozi Kainerugaba; the Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs, Hon. Kiryowa Kiwanuka; the Commandant of Uganda Military Academy-Kabamba, Brig. Gen. Saad Katemba; and other senior military officers.
During the event, outstanding cadets received awards in recognition of their performance. The newly commissioned officers subsequently took their oaths of allegiance and secrecy, formally marking the start of their service as commissioned officers in the UPDF.
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